Got a V67, put it up with my C-1 for kicks

[Hard2Hear]

I guess maybe its been done to death, but here it is anyways...

I have been meaning to try out a V67 for a long time but never bothered with it. I got one in today and tossed it up right next to my SP C-1 for a couple tracks. I wanted to see if there was much difference to me, and what that difference might be. There was a difference for sure. They sound totally different to my ears. But I decided to put a couple clips for anyone who may be interested themselves. That way you don't have to listen to what I say, but just to what I recorded.

I used both mics right next to each other and recorded them both direct at the same time thru the preamps in my MOTU828, which are nothing special but they are really clean. No eq, no compression or other tricks. Just mics thru Monster studio500 cables to the MOTU, into Sonar. I recorded my acoustic guitar, a Taylor 615ce, and me singing. I put some background vocals in for the chorus, for bg vox it's the V67 on the left for all the tracks and the C-1 on the right. I figured this was a pretty real world test, nothing fancy, no special room or anything. A result anyone should be able to get and hear easily.

This is part of a song some of my friends wrote, and I did it all in one shot no editing or second takes. I did it all in about 30 minutes tops to forgive the performance issues, that wasn't my purpose.

MXL V67G
Studio Projects C-1

I took the guitar tracks from both mics and panned them out, put a little eq on them, eq'd and compressed the vocals, and added a little reverb to get a blend of everything in more of what a finished sound may sound like. I used the v67 track for the main vocal. Just a real fast idea of a more finished sound. A 5 minute mix.
blended mix

H2H

 

[XLR]

Prefer the sound of the V67, at least on the computer speakers here. I'll compare later in the studio. Thanks for doing this. The blend mp3 didn't work for me.

Tim

 

[Hard2Hear]

Ha ha... oops. fixed it, thanks!

H2H

 

[XLR]

H2H, listened to some of the clips on your website and was impressed... no... to be honest, I was touched.

You get a Good sound.

Tim

 

[whyseye]

Still not getting the blend .... like the voice & guitar work, though.

 

[XLR]

Blended mix is working now. Guitar sounds large -in a good way - with the two mic's R and L.

Tim

 

[djmemory]

Thanks for doing the comparison! You're helping out a lot of noobs like myself by posting sound clips. They both sound good to me, but I'd have to agree with Mr. Lawler on this one...V67 sounds better.

 

[tmix]

I agree also.
The v67 has more mids and low end than the c1
I have one too, bought it recently and just now have drug it out to record vocals. I was very impressed with the guts the mic has. It isn't wimpy and harsh.

Tom

 

[NYMorningstar]

Which one sounds better is really subjective. I like the c1's sound better. I'd say it's more transparent and clear.

 

[noisedude]

I believe in a court of law, that post would be deemed "leading the witness".

Given a choice between muddy and harsh, or thin and harsh, I still have to choose something that costs less than my car.

 

[XLR]

I can't believe this is still going on... Four years later, we're still having the same discussion, with the same results?

In comparing gear, I see added value in hearing a relatively clean recording, such as this one, posted as an mp3. It's an imperfect format, sure, but for me it can convey enough realism to be useful.

When a trusted professional like Harvey Gerst or Scott Dorsey gives a written account of a mic, that's a uniquely valuable thing. But as far as the content and style of the typical product oriented threads here... they seem all too often to lean towards excitement for whatever gear the poster owns, or 2nd hand info that's just being passed on. And worse - it's all cyclical! That's already making me crazy and I've only been here 3 months. I think posting mp3 comparisons has the potential to aim discussions in a better direction.

I'm not in the market for either mic H2H tested. I listened out of interest in the communication process, then visited his website to hear more of his music. And on the subject of communication and mp3s, I think the mp3 mixing clinic contains some of the most interesting discussions in H.Rec. because postings tend to be detailed and focused on concrete musical and production issues rather than the "buyer fantasy" that is so common in some of the other forums.

Tim

 

[chessrock]

I don't personally like the sound of either mic in this example -- which is in no way an indictment against either mic -- just a personal opinion. I find one to be harsh and muddy, and the other to be harsh and thin. The performance is great, by the way.

I welcome any and all dissenting opinions to the contrary. Paricularly from those who have positive things to say about either microphone, as I realize my findings are merely one man's opinion, and the value of the forum is much richer the more of them we have.

 

[NL5]

Which one sounds better is really subjective. I like the c1's sound better. I'd say it's more transparent and clear.

I'd have to agree.

I don't know if I'd go as far as Chess and call them harsh (although my PC speakers crap out in the upper freq range, so I may not be able to hear it) - but the v67 definetly sounded somewhat muddy.

I dunno - interesting test.

 

[mrface2112]

i find the V67 to have a hashiness in the midrange. sometimes this is a bad thing, sometimes this is a good thing. it depends on the source and application.


cheers,
wade

 

[XLR]

OK, since H2H listed his comparison process so thoroughly, I though I’d also be more specific in describing what I’m hearing from the mic’s in this application …. Listened on a moderately nice home stereo, flattering speakers. Pls ignore if this is more than you wanted.

[Disclaimer: Of course the sound would be different with changes in mic placements, room, guitar, etc. And it could be that each of the mic’s would be at their best in different spots than one another… ] But just to offer an opinion based on a description of what I’m hearing…

C1 – vox: brings out a low end richness and clear articulation in the highs. Gtr: very clear and bright, just a little edgy but useable. For gtr would be perfect with a bass or 2nd guitar filling out the lower mids. This is a good mic for your voice.

V67 – Rich sound on the guitar’s lower mid’s, and there’s some muddiness there along with it. But it's a pleasing sound. Good balance between qualities in vox and gtr if you were to use it to record both at the same time. On the desktop computer speakers I had listened with at first, the 67 came out better balanced frequency wise, and the speakers aren’t super clear so the comparative muddiness wasn’t noticeable.

Didn’t like the mix as much as the individual mic tracks because, to my taste, the reverb kind of smears the vocals. It lessens the articulate nature of the voice, which is one of its good qualities.

FWIW, what I’d do: I’d put the C1 on your vocal and the 67 on the guitar. Maybe position the 67 a few inches further away than it was previously.

Tim

 

[baekgaard]

Huh?

Just been away a few days, and missed what Harvey said...

All's been deleted ;-(

I would really have liked to hear Harveys opinion on the these two mic! I know that the V67 has earlier on been favourably commented on, but the C1?

Just being curious,


-- Per.

 

[chessrock]

He mentioned that he liked both mics, doesn't find them to be harsh, and believes they both represent good values for the money.

Also mentioned that he and Al Schmidt did some testing on the v67, and came to some similar conclusions as to their quality, but also believes it's important for people here to form their own opinions.

Harvey and I were giving each other some good-natured razzing , so both of us decided to delete our original posts. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused on our parts.

 

[baekgaard]

OK, thanks for the summary, chess.


-- Per.

 

[mhelin]

Apparently V67 has more proximity effect due to more cardioid like directivity pattern (in other words C1 is "omnier" than V67).
-Mikko